Whatever the word, it's still a defeat

The Lightning can’t overcome bad defense, two hat tricks and porous goaltending.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
Published December 14, 2007

Mathieu Darche goes down near former Lightning defenseman Cory Sarich during the first period.
	[Dirk Shadd | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Dirk Shadd | Times] Daymond Langkow, ahead of Lightning defenseman Paul Ranger, beats Johan Holmqvist for one of Calgary's four first-period goals. [Dirk Shadd | Times] Marc Denis, who replaced Johan Holmqvist in the first, allows three goals in a span of eight shots during the third.

TAMPA - There were lots of ways to describe the Lightning's 9-6 loss to the Flames on Thursday night at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"Fluky," Tampa Bay defenseman Mike Lundin said.

"Strange," said Flames captain Jarome Iginla.

But it was Lightning defenseman Shane O'Brien who got it right.

"Embarrassing, really," he said. "We have to be better and take some pride. No one's perfect, but nine goals. It's no good."

On so many levels.

The nine goals tied the second most Tampa Bay has ever allowed in a game.

Calgary's four first-period goals tied the most the Lightning allowed in a period this season.

The Flames got four again in the third, including a hat trick by Iginla and an empty-netter, to break open a 5-5 game.

O'Brien said it was the defense's fault for allowing the Flames so much room to skate in the slot and allowing them to camp in front of the net. But Tampa Bay's goaltenders should not escape blame.

Johan Holmqvist was pulled for the second straight game, this time 13:05 into the first period after allowing four goals on six shots. Marc Denis, who played so well Tuesday against the Canadiens, allowed three on eight shots in the third, two from a distance of at least 40 feet.

"It wasn't by the book," Iginla said. "Both sides were making mistakes.

"There were a lot of bouncing pucks that were turning into two-on-one breakaways and different things. It was just totally different than what you're used to."

You can say that again.

Defensemen Paul Ranger and Filip Kuba each were minus-6 for Tampa Bay (14-15-3). On the other hand, O'Brien was plus-4 and had a career-high three assists.

Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf had a career-high five assists. Left wing Kristian Huselius had his first career hat trick.

For Tampa Bay, Marty St. Louis scored twice. Vinny Lecavalier had a goal and two assists, and Vinny Prospal scored his 14th goal to tie last season's output. But even they transported into Bizarro World at minus-4.

"I don't know," Lundin said. "Maybe lack of focus. We just didn't quite bear down on them, maybe, and just trying to make the play before we were handling the puck."

"Just let me watch the tape, okay?" coach John Tortorella said. "It's easy to say giving up zones and this and that. But there were a lot of things that went on with the game. So let me watch the tape and make assessments then."

No need to assess these plays.

- Ranger's defensive zone giveaway leading to Iginla's goal that made the score 7-6 with 5:19 left in the third period.

- Ranger standing in front of the net yet allowing Daymond Langkow to skate around him and score to give Calgary a 4-2 first-period lead.

- Kuba's pass from behind the Lightning goal line right to Phaneuf at the blue line; a shot, Huselius' tip and the Flames tied the score at 2.

The Lightning did have its moments. It came back from deficits of 4-2, 5-4 and 6-5. And goals by Lecavalier and Andre Roy 10 seconds apart in the first period were the fastest back-to-back the team has scored at home.

"But to keep coming back and scoring that goal," St. Louis said, "you can only do that so many times."

[Last modified December 14, 2007, 01:07:24]